1849: Bess Hardemon arrives at the grimly Dickensian Priors Heath school little knowing that she will one day end up as an inspiring & legendary headmistress
- but at considerable personal cost. 1970: Sarah Beckett is delighted to gain a place at Priors Heath
- as much for the pride of her parents as for herself
- but will she fit in? The plight of a nineteenth century schoolteacher trapped by her duty to her job is mirrored by a modern day woman's fight to escape the shackles of a broken marriage. Bess Hardemon a tough & canny young teacher is determined to make a difference at her new school. At the cost of her own chance of finding love Bess remains trapped by her duty a confinement echoed a century later by Sarah who must make her own choice between duty & her efforts to save a broken marriage.